The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-07-29
Our Washington Letter


From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Jul, 18th, 1887.
The records Of the ~past week show lit.
tic more than the usual amount of public
business transacted in spite ofthe intense
heat. The President remains entirely at
Oak View, and will continue to do as the
present warm weather continues. But his
Secretary, Col. Lamont, is dsily at the
White House and all matters offmportance
are brought before executive notice through
his agency. Numerous Invitations have
been received inviting the President and
his wife to visit the West, and especially
the Northwestern cities of st. Paul, and
Minneapolis. A telegram has been sent by
the Mayor Of St. Louis asking fthe Presi-
dent would receive delegation who come
to invite him to visit ST. Louis, after the
encampment of the Grand Army men. The
President replied that he would be in
Washington on Monday, but he has so far
signified no intention Of accepting any Of
the invitations extended to him.
Secretary Lamar, is at present the ouly
Member of the Cabinet out Of town, and he
has gone TO Georgia to attend the wedding
Of his daughter, Miss Jennie to her cousin
Mr.. Lamar, a young lawyer practicing in
Washington.
The navy yard at Washington, has been
transferred to the control of the ordinance
bureau, and the yard turned into gun
foundry. This change has met with much
complaint and some ridicule, but the work
progresses favorably notwithstanding. Be.
sides the regular Machine Shops for the
manufacture of Naval Ordinance, class
has been organized to train seamen, and is
now being instructed in the manipulation
and care Of guns, carriages, ammunition
and all the paraphernalia of cunning. At
ter the course is completed here, .he sea
med are sent to Newport, r. 1. for six
months instruction at the torpedo station.
On acquiring the required percentage, they
receive the pay of seanen gunners, and are
also eligible 10 the position Of warrant Off
GERS. With the completion Of the new
cruisers, we'll equipped and manned by
trained seamen our Navy will be no longer
a reproach to US, nor justify .l,c old Min
strels joke, about having "plenty of water,
and only wanting STEW ships to make il
the gtandest Navy in the world. Sir"
The count of cash in the Treasury vault'
begun ON the 23rd, Of May was finished OF
the 23rd, of July. THE count was render
Cd necessary by the change Of U. S. Treas
urer Mr.. Hyatt, of Conn. having succeeded
Mr.. Jordon, who resigned to accept the 20
sition of the New National Bank establish
ed in New York City, of which Ex-Secre
tary Manning is President. The csun
developed but one error, a shortage of $3.50
promptly made good by the clerk, to whom
through carelessness in the former count
the error was due. The amount on hand
in National Bank notes, and legal tender
notes was disposed OF in about three days
but the silver dollars occupied with large
force Of men to do the work, two months in
the counting.
The present postmaster of Charleston
s. C., MIR. Mowry, was, at the time of the
appointment, Clerk to the Committee of the
House of Repre- sentatives. He now claims
the salary as clerk up to June 30th, in adj
dition to that of Postmaster.
First Comptroller Durham, rejects the
claim on the ground that NO one is entitled
to draw two salaries from the Government.
The objections of the Comptroller appear
fair, but it seems that the Supreme Court
has decided differently in another and sim
liar case, that of MIR. Saunders, now clerk
at the Executive Mansion, who was at the
time Of his appointment, clerk to Con-
grcssional Committee. At any rate the
Comptroller proposes to test the case again,
and Postmaster Mowry, will carry his case
to the Courts. He may have the law on
his side, but he certainly is very avaricious
to want two offices at the same time, espe-
Ella lily when there are SO many would be Of
flee holders outside in the cold, who would
rejoice in the possession of one. Ordinarily
the decisions OF the Supreme Court of the
United States, are final and establish the
law of precedence for all like cases, but
there is no telling what head of bureau
under the Government will not dare do.
Specially il he be new appointment.
The Secretaries Of State, War and Navy,
held conference ON Saturday. and have at
last named successor to the late Engineer
Harry Lee Snyder, who was Superintend-
ent Of the State, War and Navy Depart
ment. 1t may be remembered that Engi-
neer Snyder died suddenly few weeks ago.
Chief Engineer Thomas Williamson. U. s.
N. has been nominated 10 fill the place, and
a commission made out and sent to Oak
View for the Presidents signature. Engi-
neer Williamson was formerly attached 10
the Pacific Squadron, and is now at his